Warning: include_once() [function.include-once]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/lunabeanftp/public_html/news/000938.php on line 19

Warning: include_once(http://www.lunabean.com/includes/header_index_test.html) [function.include-once]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/lunabeanftp/public_html/news/000938.php on line 19

ESPN and EA Sign 15 Year Deal

ESPN and EA Sign 15 Year Deal

EA and ESPN have announced a 15 year integrated marketing deal allowing all of EA's sports franchises access to ESPN's programming, online content, and personalities. No financial terms were announced although some are putting the value at $850 million. The deal begins in 2006 as ESPN still has a year left on their Sega contract and coincidentally, EA has a year left on their Madden contract. EA, I'm betting, will be dumping the aging Madden at the end of this year. This move happens after the recent exclusive deals with the NFL, AFL, and being snubbed by the NBA. Knowing that 20% of the gaming market is sports games, that EA has always dominated sports games with few exceptions, and Sega's ESPN NFL 2K5 actually challenged Madden '05 this year, EA is simply out to crush the competition. They are showing no mercy in securing long term deals with huge properties. And, they're after Ubisoft. Is there any stopping this behemoth? And, is this a bad thing? Comment...

Warning: include_once() [function.include-once]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/lunabeanftp/public_html/news/000938.php on line 102

Warning: include_once(http://www.lunabean.com/includes/footer_no.html) [function.include-once]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/lunabeanftp/public_html/news/000938.php on line 102